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1.   File eAPIS 跨國飛行申報 (electronic Advanced Passenger Information System)

After you have filed the eAPIS, go check your email and write down the confirmation number. The email arrives instantly. If it's a departure, you will be granted as "You are clear to take off".

When you file the eAPIS for departure, you will be asking for U.S. CBP Decal number.

Obtaining CBP/DHS aircraft DECAL for your aircraft in advance of international flight ($27.50).

     https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov or http://cbp.dhs.gov 

(if you couldn't access their web site by any chance, or got interrupted during the process, close your browser and re-try again).

Decal expires on the last day of the year, doesn't matter which date you purchased.

I was told that it takes about 6 weeks to get the DECAL sticker, but I received mine within a week, I guess the system must have improved.  

2. When you file your flight plan, write down your flight plan file number (example #1174410), When activate your flight plan, get the border crossing squark code to cross the border (very important, must have it), don't wait for them to tell you, ask yourself.

3.   eAPIS FAQ    www.eapis.cbp.dhs.gov

I talked to a guy at Chilliwack, Canada. who is a U.S. ex-marine pilot, used to fly out of El Toro, Orange County. He said, you better be within 15 mintues of the time frame when crossing the border, otherwise $5000 fine (the seminar I took said plus or minus 30 minutes).

4 hours before I take off from Williams Lake, I filed the eAPIS through internet, but it took me 4 hours to get the frost off the airplane. So, I called U.S. Custom in Bellingham WA., explained my situation. The officer who I talked to said  "don't worry about the eAPIS, we know you have filed, and we know your are coming across the border, everything will be ok when you arrive". It wasn't that bad as I heard from those people. But still, better be as accurate as possible, it's all man made rules, who knows what they will do next time. Just keep them informed and write down the name of the officer who you talked to.

Another issue I heard from this ex-marine pilot "All charts on board should be current, FAA will fine you $100 per chart if they are expired", "FAA doesn't normally show up, but if they do, you will be fined". U.S. Custom doesn't care about your expired chart. My version to against this issue, please see NOTE, this is the note I obtained from a FAA staff who works at the local office in Torrance, who is also a pilot owns a C180 and worked in Alaska for a few years. He has rendered a great help with my trip to Alaska, many thanks to him.

U.S. Custom will check the following document when you arrive,  1. Pilot license   2. Aircraft registraion   3. Medical certificate   4. Passport.   Be sure NOT to step out of the airplane before they give you the clearance. Neither Canada nor U.S. asked me for FCC radio telephone operator permit.

4.   Call U.S. Custom within 24 hours or 1 hour before arrival, these are the words I heard from Bellingham Custom, but some says 1 hour before departure from your last foreign airport.

When I was at Williams Lake trying to contact U.S. Custom in Bellingham WA to report my arrival, my cellphone didn't show coverage, nor did the paid phone ever worked at the phone booth ($2.50 a minute), so I called CANPASS (CBSA) @ 1-888-226-7277 and explained my situation, the officer transfered me to Bellingham WA Custom without cost me anything. (CBSA: Canadian Border Service Agency)

I later found out my cellphone didn't have the international roaming and calling feature turned on, it's a free service from T-Mobile (that's what I have). Calling from Canada cost additional 49 cents per minute (on top of free minute), not bad at all. T-Mobile suggests me to keep the phone turned off most of the time, to avoid the possible roaming charges. You can view the coverage map in Canada by access www.t-mobile.com ---> Support ---> plans and service (don't log in) ---> Inernational services ---> under "Calling from other countries" click "see international roaming rate" (small words at the bottom) ---> Select Country "Canada" ---> GO ---> select one of the five local cellphone company, it will show their coverage map.

Direct phone number at Bellingham U.S. Custom: 1-360-734-5463

You can find the "port of entry" Custom local office number @  www.cbp.gov, look under  "Travel".

5.   International Flight Rules and Regulations additional information

6.  A friend of mine's God-son choose to go to Alaska without filing the eAPIS, this is how he did it:

To fly from Bellingham WA. to Ketchikan in Alaska, you need to file a flight plan; which includes the fact that you will be crossing the ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone). The FAA will automatically include that in the flight plan if you call it in; but if you file online, some of the online systems need to have the ADIZ box checked. Generally, it's called an Over-Flight Flight Plan. The FAA takes care of coordination with Canadian Flight Service. You do not need to file with eAPIS and you do not need to file an International Flight Plan. With the exception of the ADIZ box checked, it is as if you were filing a flight plan between two U.S. airports.

(This information was from my friend -- Richard Eastman, a retired Airline pilot, consultant and a Sportsaman 2+2 builder/owner. Thanks Richard)

Please be advised, all the information I have listed above are based on my recent experience, rules change from time to time, please do you own study before making a trip to Alaska. 

1. Call CANPASS (CBSA: Canada Border Service Agency) 1-888-226-7277 two hours prior your arrival. After you have arrived, call them again to get arrival report number (example 20092690133) or await customs inspection. Be sure not to step out of the airplane, wait for the clearance (very important).

2. Make sure you register your fire arm when calling CANPASS at 1-888-7277 (same as above), write down the fire arm register number. The registration fee is $25 per entry. They will ask you what kind of fire arm, serial number and  barrel length (be awared, must be 18.5" or longer), better have all those information on hand. 18.5" barrel length is limited to center fire rifle, doesn't apply to rim fire rifle, I found an excellent survival 22 caliber rifle, Model -- Henry AR-7, approx $200, barrel length 16.5", can be disassembled and put in the stock within seconds, make it a good back pack survival rifle.

3.  Canada Airport of entry

4. Canada Border information service

    Calls within Canada 1-800-461-9999

    Calls outside of Canada 204-983-3500 and 506-636-5064

5.  Most of the "radio controlled" airport has a console designated for pilot to file the flight plan (NAV Canada), the console looks like the picture below, a CRT Display, key board and a telephone hanging on the left (they are identical from airport to airport, but not all airport has the console).

Pick up the phone will dial the flight Service automaticly. The computer is a modem dialup, require password, so, don't bother to use it. Just pick up the phone, file your flight plan verbally.

Console location:   Abbotsford: at the first floor of control tower (they usually leave the gate open).

                            Williams Lake: far end of the hall way, next to airport control room.

                            Whitehorse: FSS at the base of control tower, they welcome pilot to walk-in to get briefing (talk in person).

                            Watson Lake: No console, but a telephone and Computer (with internet connection) in a room next to airport control room.

                            Dawson CreeK: A separate small room at the east end of the terminal building, you need to walk outside and go around the

                                                  terminal building to get there.

You can call flight Service from any phone booth: Toll free number 1-866-WX-Brief (no coin required).

You can call CBSA (CANPASS) from any phone booth: Toll free number 1-888-226-7277

Your Canadian flight plan will be activated automatically according your departure time, but in the U.S., your flight Plan won't be activated unless you call again before your departure or just takeoff from an airport and call them on the radio. 

6. For each gated and secured airport, before you go outside, write down the gate code before exit, the code is usually labeled next to the lock, at some airport (like Whitehorse), it's covered by a metal plate, be sure to read the sign posted by the gate. At Williams Lake airport, it's on the side door of the termainal, not the door where passenger come out to aboard the commercial flight. if you don't see the number, ask some one before you exit. Exit is easy, come in is not.

7. Contact Canadian flight service on 126.7MHz (cover most of the area), their Radar service is limited, It's a good idea to stay in contact with flight service when flying in Canada. To me it's a much better back up than 121.5Mhz emergency frequency, because FSS offers much better coverage than any other frequency.

Flight Service on the ground 1-866-Wx-Brief (1-866-992-7433). Another direct line: 1-866-541-4101

Flight Service: Camloops (Camloops center)

Flight Service: Edmonton (Edmonton center)

Call FSS near Abbotsford area: 126.7Mhz, 122.5Mhz

Call FSS near Cache creek and Lytton area (Fraser river): 123.375Mhz

Call FSS near Hope area: 126.7Mhz

Call FSS near Williams Lake area: 123.275Mhz

Call FSS near MacKenzie area: 123.55Mhz

Call FSS near Ft. St. John and Ft. Nelson area: 123.55Mhz

Call FSS near Whitehorse area: 123.275, 126.7Mhz

Look into Canada Flight Supplement (published by NAV CANADA), under "COMM",  you will find FSS frequency under "RCO" and "PAL". 

Be sure you have "Canadian flight supplement" with you, it's like Airport facility directory in the U.S. very useful when travel in Canada (must have it).

8. I talked to a flight school at Chilliwack, they seem to be very serious about the arrival time which filed in the flight plan. But I found out it's not true when talking to FSS over the phone. Bob Breeden has his unique way to file his flight plan, you can pretty much tell them what time you want the flight plan to be closed, you can make one stop or several stops along the route (even overnight stay), FSS will "remark" in your flight plan, and they won't send search and rescue team out until 30 minutes has passed your arrival time (decide by you).

All the airpot I have been will close the flight plan for you, they will tell you the "Zulu time" soon after you touch down. Some will open the flight plan for you after your departure, they will tell you the zulu time of your takeoff. Or, you can call FSS on the radio yourself. Even if you forgot to call them, the flight plan will be activated automaticly according to your planned departure time (but not in the U.S.).

When I was at Scoop Lake, I filed the flight plan with the destiney of Watson lake with remark "if the Wx is bad, I'll return to Scoop Lake, and the flight plan won't be closed until next day noon", when I landed on Highway 97 that night, I was ok with FSS, no rescure team was sent out to look for me. But next time, I'll be sure to give FSS a call to let them know my status, because I didn't go back to Scoop Lake (no cellphone coverage on the hwy either, but at least I should find a way to contact them).

When I diverted from Ft. St. John to Hudson's Hope 2/3 of the way, I called FSS to amend my flight plan, they have a doubt that there may not have any facility at the airport, so they suggest me to extend my arrival time one hour later, give me one more hour to look for a telephone to call them. That night, I stood by the Hwy with the flash light in my hand and waving at a passing by vehicle, one young man took me to the town 7 miles away to use the local phone to call FSS. Closing out the flight plan is extremely important.

9. You will be getting a bill from Canada after you return home, some one told me it's around $150, but I got a bill for $17.89, five weeks after I have returned, I paid by the credit card. This is the charge for using Canadian Airspace and services. Is this what Obama (我爸媽) trying to bill us the poor pilots in the U.S.?

 1. Alaskan Emergency HF Frequency 5167.5KHz (Upper side band)